Your support helps us to tell the story
Read more
Support Now
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
Read more
Peter Mandelson has broken his silence over the unfolding scandal around his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, warning there are more “very embarrassing” revelations to come after it was revealed he maintained ties with him after he was jailed for a child sex offence.
Britain’s ambassador to Washington said he was “very embarrassed” to read a birthday message to the late paedophile in which he described him as his “best pal”.
The messages, part of a 50th birthday book compiled for Epstein by convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, also saw Lord Mandelson express “love” for the financier and joke about entertaining his “interesting” friends.
open image in gallery
Epstein referred to Mandelson as ‘Petie’ in email correspondence(House Oversight Committee)
Speaking to The Sun’s Harry Cole on his YouTube channel, Lord Mandelson said: “I find them very embarrassing to see and to read… but, as you say, they were written before he was indicted.
“I just feel two things now. One, I feel a tremendous sense, a profound sense of sympathy for those people, those women, who suffered as a result of his behaviour and his illegal criminal activities.
RECOMMENDED
Strictly stars ‘confirm’ romance one year after competing on...
Undo
Trump live: US leader said he ate ‘whatever the hell they served us’ at Windsor
Undo
Men Over 40 Are Losing Belly Fat Faster Than Ever — Here’s Their Secretprimalhealthsecrets |
Undo
New Electric Cars Are So Cheap Now (Take A Look)FrequentSearches | Search Ads |
Undo
Powered by TaboolaPowered by Taboola
“And secondly, I regret very, very deeply indeed, carrying on that association with him for far longer than I should have done.
“It was a matter of years after I initially met him, and I regret very much that I fell for his lies.”
open image in gallery
Mandelson referred to Epstein as his ‘best pal’ and said that he ‘loved’ him in the messages(House Committee on Oversight and Reform)
Lord Mandelson went on to say that “perhaps because I am a gay man”, he may have been blinded to Epstein’s criminal behaviour.
But, asked whether there were more revelations to come about the relationship, Lord Mandelson said: “I have no doubt at all that there’s a lot of traffic, correspondence, exchanges between us – absolutely. And we know those are going to surface.
“We know they’re going to come out.
“We know they’re going to be very embarrassing, and they know that I’m going to profoundly regret ever having met him and been introduced to him in the first place.”
Lord Mandelson added: “He’s a charismatic criminal liar. We now see, and I regret very much indeed, I felt it like a... like an albatross around my neck since his death in 2018 or 19.
“I feel a tremendous sense of regret, not only that I met him in the first place, but that I continued the association, and I took at face value the lies that he fed me.”
Education minister Josh MacAlister insisted Lord Mandelson still had the backing of the government and warned against people finding the Labour grandee “guilty by association” with Epstein.
open image in gallery
The note raised questions about Mandelson’s judgment(House Committee on Oversight and Reform)
He told ITV’s Good Morning Britain he had not seen Lord Mandelson's interview, but added: "Yes, the ambassador has the support of government."
Epstein’s 50th birthday book contained a photo of Lord Mandelson and Epstein on what appeared to be the multimillionaire’s island, as well as a handwritten note for the disgraced financier.
The note from Lord Mandelson to Epstein appeared to take the form of a poem beginning: “Once upon a time, an intelligent, sharp-witted man they call ‘mysterious’ parachuted into my life.”
Other pictures featured alongside the note included a shot of Lord Mandelson on a balcony in a pair of swimming trunks, shot from behind, with his hands on his hips.
Lord Mandelson’s note appeared to refer to “interesting” friends he had been left to entertain by Epstein.
“But wherever he is in the world, he remains my best pal,” it concluded. Lord Mandelson appeared to add: “Happy birthday, Jeffrey, we love you!!”
It has also emerged that Epstein brokered a deal with Lord Mandelson over the sale of a taxpayer-owned business after he had been convicted of child sex offences.
Months after the late paedophile had been released from prison, he negotiated the deal alongside then Labour business secretary Lord Mandelson.
open image in gallery
Keir Starmer gave Mandelson his full backing, saying his work helps build ties with the Trump administration(PA)
Epstein advised both Lord Mandelson and senior JP Morgan executive Jes Staley on the firm’s purchase of Sempra Commodities, a joint venture between the publicly owned Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Sempra Energy.
Mr Staley has since been banned from the City for misleading the Financial Conduct Authority over his relationship with Epstein.
An investigation by The Daily Telegraph has detailed a two-decade friendship between Lord Mandelson and Epstein, which lasted even after Epstein was jailed for a child sex offence in 2008.
Emails obtained by the paper show Epstein introducing Lord Mandelson to Mr Staley, setting up at least two meetings between the pair before JP Morgan’s purchase of Sempra.
After one meeting, Epstein asked Mr Staley: “Was Petie helpful?” Lord Mandelson being nicknamed “Petie” by the notorious paedophile, has been seen as a stark example of how close the pair grew.
RECOMMENDED
Balloons released in memory of young boy after remains found in search
Undo
Duchess of York wrote to ‘supreme friend’ Epstein after insisting she had cut ties
Undo
Always Mix Salt and Vaseline - Here's WhyZen Life Weekly |
Undo
Undo
Powered by TaboolaPowered by Taboola
Sir Keir Starmer has also given Lord Mandelson his full backing to stay on as Britain’s ambassador to the US, stressing the positive work he has done to build ties with the Trump administration.
The British embassy in Washington has been asked to comment.